The biggest guilty pleasure I can think of is hope. Even with wisdom and awareness we can hope – thus the title, Apple Stained Lips.

All contests aside I like these songs, but for this purpose I will attempt to wax poetic or at least make you laugh.

This CD mixes the enthusiasm for suburban life with the safety that can be mistaken for love. It confronts the epic nature of ego, the desire for material goods and traditional gender roles with humor and dare I say grace. Balancing these heavier concepts is a deep gratitude for mystery and the recognition that mutuality exists.

Arcade Fire- Neighborhood #1
Antony and the Johnsons- Fistful of Love
Leonard Cohen- Hey, that’s no way to say goodbye
The White Stripes- We’re Going to be Friends
Wildtones- Chicken Clucking
The Axehand (Kyle Mulligan)- Fun with Sheep
John Prine & Iris DeMent- In Spite of Ourselves
Brother Ali- Forest Whitaker
Jay-Z- On to the Next One
Wildtones- Donkey Braying
Ethel Merman- Can You Use Any Money Today
Pixies- U-Mass
CocoRosie- By Your Side
Radiohead- Creep
Neutral Milk Hotel- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea